PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley Soccer at Morton's McClallen Park and a Peoria Chiefs minor league baseball game will be the featured attractions of two Bradley Athletics Community Night events later this month.
 
Bradley Athletics introduced the Community Nights events last summer as a way for Braves fans to interact with coaches, staff and student-athletes in an informal environment heading into the new school year.  The two 2012 events will include opportunities for autographs, activities for young fans, raffle drawings and speaking programs involving Director of Athletics Dr. Michael Cross and select coaching staff members.
 
As the Braves begin their chase for a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the Bradley Soccer team will host Dayton in an exhibition tune-up Aug. 14 at McClallen Park in Morton.  Community Night activities will begin at 6 p.m. and the 2012 Bradley Soccer team will be available for autographs until 6:30.  A brief speaking program featuring 17th-year head coach Jim DeRose, Dr. Cross, volleyball head coach Jenny Maurer, men's basketball head coach Geno Ford and new women's basketball head coach Michael Brooks will begin at 7 o'clock and kickoff is slated for 7:30.  Admission will be free for both the soccer game and the Community Night event.
 
The Peoria Chiefs will open a 3-game home stand by hosting the Burlington Bees Aug. 15 at O'Brien Field for the second Bradley Community Night event.  Bradley coaches and staff, as well as a handful of Bradley student-athletes, will be available for autographs from 6-6:30 p.m. on the right field concourse, a brief speaking program including Cross, Ford and Brooks will begin at 6:30 and Brooks will throw out a ceremonial first pitch.  Fans may purchase discounted game tickets ($6 per seat) online at PeoriaChiefs.com by using the promo code BRADLEY.  The Aug. 15 game also will be $1 Wednesday at O'Brien Field, where hot dogs, soda and ice cream sandwiches all will be available for $1 each.